The Wallabies have received the best draw imaginable for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. If results go according to seedings during the pool stages of the tournament, the Wallabies cannot run into the defending champion Springboks or the top-ranked All Blacks until the final.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is optimistic Matt Giteau will choose country over cash and not try to walk away from Australian rugby to chase riches in France.

New Zealand will return home to their shores the best team in the world by some margin – and the conquered home nations should be better for it.

Congratulations to Shane Williams on winning the Player of the Year award. My gripe is not against him, as I think he’s good enough to challenge for a starting spot in any of the Tri Nations teams. My gripe is against his fellow Northern Hemisphere nominees.

The Wallabies have lost a third player from their spring tour of Europe, with Wycliff Palu sent back to Australia with a recurrence of a shoulder injury.

This is the final international Test for both nations, where a win would cap off very successful years. We could claim it to be a litmus test for the teams, but the reality is that both nations have proven themselves already this season.

Returning No.8 Richard Brown says the Wallabies must outdo Wales in the enthusiasm stakes if they wish to complete an unbeaten spring tour of Europe on Saturday.

Another World Championship is decided, with an underdog team claiming the glory against the champion elect. Is it fair? I recall with fond memories the years of 2005 and 2006 as an All Black supporter.

Amidst the hype of all the recent tour games, we forget that based on form, Wales and the All Blacks are effectively the two best teams in the world. Of course, aspects such as recent results and actual world rankings dispute this.

Watching his team waltz its way to the brink of a seventh straight World Cup, Australian coach Ricky Stuart’s chest almost bursts with pride.

Bronson Harrison will be a man inspired in the rugby league World Cup final against Australia on Saturday.

A strong win against England has the faithful singing the praises of their re-born Wallaby team. But are they the real deal?

New Zealand’s burning desire to spring another massive upset over Australia has been further fuelled by what the World Cup underdogs believe was a snub of their former greats at a gala awards dinner.

Robbie Deans has challenged his high-flying Wallabies to prove they’re no flash in the pan in Saturday’s showdown with the unpredictable French in Paris.

Veteran prop Phil Vickery - the sole survivor from England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup final triumph over Australia - has cautioned his rookie teammates against underestimating the cunning of the Wallabies in Saturday’s Twickenham showdown.

Mystery surrounds the make-up of the England World Cup semi-final team despite coach Tony Smith naming a 19-strong squad today.

Missing the chance to exact revenge on England hurts Wallabies star Berrick Barnes as much as the pain of his European tour-ending knee injury.

The experiment of playing John Smit and Ruan Pienaar at 3 and 10 was a success. They’ll need a few more games before a final verdict can be given, but their fist run was a definitive success.

Without a hint of insincerity or gamesmanship, Italy coach Nick Mallett has all but written off his side’s chances of beating the Wallabies in Saturday’s Test in Padova.

Coach Ricky Stuart will rest Australian captain Darren Lockyer but says the decision has nothing to do with any empathy for Sunday’s World Cup underdogs Papua New Guinea in Townsville.